Jonathan Galicia from Dallas, Texas is Dueling against Christopher Welch from California in this Round 8 Feature Match that pits Fire Fists against Mermails! This matchup has been a popular one this weekend, and will likely be played out many more times in this tournament

Duel One

Welch started off Duel 1 by Setting a monster along with 2 back rows.

Galicia opened up with Fire Formation – Tensen, 2 copies of Pot of Duality, 2 copies of Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Dragon, and Fire Formation – Tenki. He activated Pot of Duality, revealing Fiendish Chain, Solemn Warning, and Fire Formation – Tensu from the top of his Deck. He added Solemn Warning to his hand and shuffled the other 2 cards back into his Deck. Next, Galicia Summoned Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Dragon. He activated Fire Formation – Tenki to search his Deck for a copy of Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear to add to his hand, and used the effect of Dragon to Set Tensen from his Deck. Galicia Set Solemn Warning and then attacked Welch’s face-down Mermail Abysslinde with Dragon, destroying it in battle. Welch Special Summoned Mermail Abysspike from his Deck with Abysslinde’s effect and activated Abysspike’s effect by discarding Atlantean Heavy Infantry. He added Atlantean Marksman from his Deck to his hand and destroyed Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Dragon with the effect of his Infantry.

Welch tried to Summon Atlantean Marksman, but Galicia flipped Solemn Warning and gave up 2000 Life Points to negate its Summon. Next, Welch attacked directly with Mermail Abysspike, dropping Galicia down to 4400 Life Points. Welch Set a card to his back row before passing.

Galicia drew Heavy Storm! He activated it, and Welch Chained Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck. All Spell and Trap Cards on the field were destroyed, and Mermail Abysslinde went down with the Abyss-sphere, allowing Welch to Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed from his Deck with Mermail Abysslinde’s effect.

Galicia activated Pot of Duality next, revealing Rescue Rabbit, Fire Formation – Tenki, and Fire Formation – Tensu from the top of his Deck. He added Tensu to his hand and shuffled the other 2 cards back into his Deck. Next, Galicia Normal Summoned Dragon and activated Tensu. He used Dragon’s effect to Set a Fire Formation – Tensen from his Deck and then used Tensu to Normal Summon Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear. Galicia sent Tensu from his field to his Graveyard to use his Bear’s effect and destroy Mermail Abyssleed, and then attacked over Mermail Abysspike to destroy it with Dragon. Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear attacked directly next, dropping Welch down to 6200 Life Points and allowing Galicia to Set Tenki from his Deck. Galicia flipped Tenki in Main Phase 2 to add another Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear to his hand. He Set another Tensen before ending his turn.

Welch discarded Mermail Abyssmegalo to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus from his hand and used his Mermail Abyssteus’s effect to add Mermail Abyssgunde from his Deck to his hand. Next, he Normal Summoned Mermail Abysslinde and attacked Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Dragon with it. Welch lost 400 Life Points and his Mermail Abysslinde was destroyed. He used his Abysslinde’s effect to Special Summon Mermail Abysspike from his Deck and then used his Mermail Abysspike’s effect to discard Mermail Abyssgunde and add Atlantean Marksman from his Deck to his hand. He used Abyssgunde’s effect to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde from his Graveyard. In Main Phase 2, Welch used his Mermail Abyssleed’s effect to Tribute Mermail Abysspike and force Galicia to send the Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear in his hand to his Graveyard. Next, Welch combined Mermail Abyssteus with Mermail Abyssleed to Xyz Summon Mermail Abyssgaios.

Galicia drew Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear and Summoned it. He attacked Abyssgaios with a Bear, and Welch detached an Xyz Material from Abyssgaios to activate its effect; but Galicia flipped 2 copies of Tensen to empower his Bear, allowing it to destroy Abyssgaios in battle, and then direct attacks from Dragon and Galicia’s other Bear finished Welch off!

Jonathan Galicia applies constant pressure with Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Dragon and Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear to defeat Christopher Welch’s Mermail Deck in Duel 1! Welch will be going first in Duel 2!

Duel Two

Welch started off Duel 2 by Setting a monster along with 2 cards to his back row.

Galicia opened up Duel 2 with Dimensional Fissure, Soul Taker, Fire Formation – Tenki, Mystical Space Typhoon, Fire Formation – Tensu, and Fire Formation – Tensen. He activated Tenki; but Welch Chained Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy it. Galicia activated Dimensional Fissure and Set a card to his back row.

Welch passed without making a play.

Galicia drew Compulsory Evacuation Device and Set it.

Welch Set a card to his back row.

Galicia drew Bottomless Trap Hole and Set Mystical Space Typhoon.

Welch passed without making a play.

Galicia drew another Mystical Space Typhoon and passed.

Welch passed once again without making a play.

Galicia drew Fire Formation – Tenki. He activated Mystical Space Typhoon to try to destroy Welch’s face-down Dust Tornado, and Welch Chained it to destroy Galicia’s Dimensional Fissure. Next, Galicia used another Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Welch’s face-down Torrential Tribute. Galicia activated Tenki to search his Deck for Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear and add it to his hand. He Summoned Bear and then attacked Welch’s face-down Snowman Eater. Snowman Eater flipped face-up to destroy Bear, and Galicia lost 200 Life Points. Galicia Set Bottomless Trap Hole before passing.

Welch discarded Atlantean Marksman from his hand to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus. He used his Abyssteus’s effect to add Mermail Abyssgunde to his hand and used Atlantean Marksman’s effect to destroy Galicia’s Compulsory Evacuation Device. Abyssteus attacked Galicia directly, dropping him down to 6300 Life Points. Welch activated Messenger of Peace in Main Phase 2.

Galicia drew a card and Set a card to his back row.

Welch paid 100 Life Points in his Standby Phase to keep Messenger of Peace on the field. Then he switched Mermail Abyssteus to Defense Position and Set a monster.

Galicia drew a card and passed.

Welch paid another 100 Life Points with Messenger of Peace in his Standby Phase. He Set a card to his back row and passed.

Galicia drew Pot of Duality and activated it, revealing Forbidden Lance, Fiendish Chain, and Fire Formation – Tensen from the top of his Deck. He added Fiendish Chain to his hand and shuffled the other 2 cards back into his Deck. He Set Fiendish Chain before ending his turn.

Welch paid another 100 Life Points in his Standby Phase and then activated Heavy Storm! Galicia Chained Compulsory Evacuation Device to return Welch’s face-down monster to his hand, and then all Spell and Trap Cards were destroyed!

Welch discarded Mermail Abyssleed and Mermail Abyssgunde to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo from his hand. He used Abyssmegalo’s effect to add Abyss-sphere from his Deck to his hand and used Mermail Abyssgunde’s effect to Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed from his Graveyard. He activated Abyssmegalo’s effect by Tributing Snowman Eater, allowing the Abyssmegalo to attack twice, and Galicia promptly conceded.

Christopher Welch clears the Spell & Trap Card Zone with Heavy Storm before wiping out Jonathan Galicia’s Life Points with his Level 7 Mermail monsters to win Duel 2! Jonathan Galicia will be going first in Duel 3!

Duel Three

Galicia started off Duel 3 with Dimensional Fissure, Fire Formation – Tenki, Fire Formation – Tensu, and 3 copies of Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear.

He activated Fire Formation – Tenki to search his Deck for Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Dragon and add it to his hand. Next, he Normal Summoned Dragon and activated Fire Formation – Tensu. He used Dragon’s effect to Set Fire Formation – Tensen from his Deck and then used Tensu’s effect to Normal Summon Bear. He activated Dimensional Fissure before ending his turn.

Welch activated Soul Taker to destroy Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Dragon and grant Galicia 1000 Life Points. Next, he activated Heavy Storm! Galicia Chained Tensu to increase Bear’s ATK by 700, but all 4 of his back rows were destroyed! Welch Normal Summoned Deep Sea Diva and activated its effect to Special Summon Atlantean Marksman from his Deck. He Tuned his monsters together to Summon Ally of Justice Catastor and then attacked Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear with Catastor to destroy it. Welch Set 3 cards to his back row before passing.

Galicia activated Soul Taker to destroy Catastor and increase Welch’s Life Points by 1000. He Summoned Bear and tried to attack directly; but Welch flipped Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde in Defense Position and block the attack! Bear attacked and destroyed Mermail Abysslinde, and Welch used Abysslinde’s effect to Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed from his Deck.

Welch drew Deep Sea Diva next turn. He Normal Summoned it and used its effect to Special Summon another Deep Sea Diva from his Deck. Then he activated Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abysspike from his Deck. He Tuned Deep Sea Diva with Mermail Abysspike to Synchro Summon Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier, and used Dewloren’s effect to return his Deep Sea Diva and Abyss-sphere to his hand and increase Dewloren’s ATK to 3000. Abyssleed and Dewloren attacked directly, dropping Galicia down to 4900 Life Points.

Galicia drew Bottomless Trap Hole and Set it along with a Bear.

Welch attacked Galcia’s face-down Bear with Dewloren to destroy it, and then Mermail Abyssleed attacked directly to drop Galicia down to 2200 Life Points. Welch flipped Abyss-sphere next, Special Summoning Mermail Abyssmegalo from his Deck; but Galicia activated Bottomless Trap Hole to banish it. In Main Phase 2, Welch returned Abyss-sphere to his hand with Dewloren. Next, Welch Normal Summoned Deep Sea Diva and used its effect to Special Summon Atlantean Heavy Infantry from his Deck. He combined his Diva with his Infantry to Xyz Summon Gachi Gachi Gantetsu in Defense Position. Welch Set a card before ending his turn.

Galicia drew Fire Formation – Tensu and conceded, unable to take down Welch’s monsters.

A key Heavy Storm allows Christopher Welch to make short work of Jonathan Galicia in Duel 3 and gives Welch the victory in the Match! Christopher Welch is moving on with an 8-0 record using Mermails!